Minn. Stat. § 363A § 363A.42
PUBLIC RECORDS; ACCESSIBILITY.
Operative Text
Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, "records" means any publicly available recorded information that is collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by the executive, judicial or legislative branches of the state, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota, cities, towns, counties, school districts and all other political subdivisions of the state, regardless of physical form or method of storage. Subd. 2.Accessibility. Upon request by an individual, records must be made available within a reasonable time period to persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities. Reasonable modifications must be made in any policies, practices and procedures that might otherwise deny equal access to records to individuals with disabilities. Subd. 2a.Exemptions. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary except Laws 2009, chapter 131, this section does not apply to: (1) technology procured or developed prior to January 1, 2013, unless substantially modified or substantially enhanced after January 1, 2013; or (2) records that cannot be reasonably modified to be accessible without an undue burden as defined in section 16E.015, subdivision 4, to the public entity. Subd. 3.Penalties. Violation of this section is subject to a penalty of $500 per violation, plus reasonable attorney fees, costs and disbursements, payable to a qualified disabled person under section 363A.03, subdivision 36, who sought the accessible record under subdivision 2, by the public entity in violation of this section. The total amount of penalties payable to any individual or class regardless of the number of violations is limited to $15,000. In any class action or series of class actions which arise from a violation of this section, the amount of attorney fees awarded against the violating public entity may not exceed $15,000. Any action must be commenced within one year of the occurrence of the alleged violation.
Minn. Stat. § 363A.42 requires government entities in Minnesota—including state agencies, courts, universities, cities, counties, and school districts—to make publicly available records accessible to people with disabilities upon request, within a reasonable time and in a manner consistent with anti-discrimination law. Policies, practices, and procedures that would otherwise block equal access to records must be reasonably modified. Exemptions exist for technology acquired before January 1, 2013 (unless substantially updated afterward) and for records that cannot be made accessible without imposing an undue burden on the public entity.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Although Minn. Stat. § 363A.42 is directed at public entities rather than private landlords, property owners who interact with government record systems or manage housing under public programs should be aware that government partners holding tenant or property records are obligated to provide accessible formats to individuals with disabilities on request. Compliant public entities generally audit their record-delivery policies and procedures to ensure they do not inadvertently deny equal access. Understanding this framework can help housing operators anticipate how public records about their properties may be requested and delivered.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Minn. Stat. § 363A.42, tenants with disabilities have the right to request that government-held public records—such as housing inspection reports or court filings—be provided in an accessible format within a reasonable time. If a public entity fails to comply, the law provides for a penalty of $500 per violation plus reasonable attorney fees, with total penalties capped at $15,000 per individual or class, and any legal action must be filed within one year of the alleged violation. Tenants who believe their right to accessible records has been denied may consider contacting a tenant-rights organization or consulting an attorney familiar with disability rights and public records law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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